THE PRESIDENT: Please be seated. Welcome to the White House. You may
have heard I've had a pretty eventful weekend. (Laughter.)

So I slipped out Saturday night to Andrews Air Force Base, boarded Air
Force One, and landed in Baghdad, Iraq, on Sunday afternoon. It was an
unbelievable experience, it really was, to stand next to the President of a
democracy and hold my hand over my heart as they played the national anthem
in front of one of Saddam Hussein's palaces. I then had -- (applause) --
and then I had the honor to thank our brave troops who have helped make the
transformation in Iraq possible.

This morning we landed in Afghanistan. I spoke to American forces serving
courageously to make sure that Afghanistan never becomes a safe haven from
which the killers could launch attacks on the homeland.

And then I met with President Karzai, who is determined to help the young
democracy survive. And so he said, why don't you hang around for a while?
And I said, well, you don't understand. (Laughter.) I need to get back to
the White House for an important event. (Laughter.) The Hanukkah
reception is always one of the most special events of the season. Laura
and I are pleased to be with so many friends. And we are honored to gather
with leaders of the Jewish community to celebrate our final Hanukkah here
in the White House.

I want to thank our Attorney General for joining us. General, I appreciate
you and Susan joining us. I am proud to be here with one of America's
great United States senators, Joe Lieberman -- (applause) -- his greatness
made possible by his wife Hadassah, I might add. (Laughter.) And one of
the young leaders of the United States Congress, Eric Cantor, and his wife
Diana. (Applause.) And we're proud to be here with Kol Zimra, as well,
who will perform later.

The story of Hanukkah recalls the miraculous victory of a small band of
patriots against tyranny, and the oil that burned for eight nights.
Through centuries of exile and persecution, Jews have lit the menorah.
Each year, they behold its glow with faith in the power of God, and love
for His greatest gift -- freedom.

This Hanukkah we celebrate another miraculous victory -- the 60th
anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. When President Harry
Truman led the world in recognizing Israel in May of 1948, many wondered
whether the small nation could possibly survive. Yet from the first days
of independence, the people of Israel defied dire predictions. With
determination and hard work, they turned a rocky desert into fertile soil.
They built a thriving democracy, a strong economy, and one of the mightiest
military forces on earth. Like the Maccabees, Israel has defended itself
bravely against enemies seeking its destruction. And today, Israel is a
light unto the nations -- and one of America's closest friends.

This evening, we have the great privilege of celebrating Israel's 60th
anniversary and Hanukkah in a very special way. Thanks to the generosity
of the Truman Library, we are fortunate to light the menorah presented to
President Truman in 1951 as a symbol of friendship by Israel's first prime
minister, David Ben-Gurion.

A decade after President Truman received this gift, he visited Prime
Minister Ben-Gurion for one of the last times. As they parted, Ben-Gurion
told the President that as a foreigner he could not judge President
Truman's place in American history, but the President's courageous decision
to recognize the new state of Israel gave him an immortal place in Jewish
history. Those words filled the President's eyes with uncharacteristic
tears. And later, Ben-Gurion would say he rarely had seen somebody so
moved.

And so tonight I'm deeply moved to welcome the grandsons of these two great
men -- Clifton Truman Daniel and Yariv Ben-Eliezer -- to light the Truman
menorah together.

Laura and I wish all the people of Jewish faith a happy Hanukkah and many
joyous Hanukkahs in the years ahead. Thank you. (Applause.)